Tiller lock



Apr. 1o, 1923. f 1,451,452 H. T. WILLIAMS TILLER LOCK Original Filed Nov. 22, 1920 3 sheets-sheet l INVENTOR TORNEYS Apr. 1o, 1923. 1,451,452

H. T. WILLIAMS TILLER LOCK Original Filed Nov. 22, 1920 ,3 shets-sheet 2 ,TF 15p- ,2,2 @H9 e5 32 3457 ,O

Ff- 5.4 Z3 34.36' J" INVENTOR Hannah Tlzllzams ATTORNEYS Apr. 10, 1923. 1,451,452

H. T. WILLIAMS TILLER LOCK Original F'led Nov. 22, 1920 5 sheets-Sheet 5 lNvENToR Hannah Tlillz'a'zzw ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

UNITED STATES HANNAH ToTTEN WILLIAMS, or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

' TILLER Loox.

Application led November 2,2, 1920, Serial No.1425,728. Renewed February 16, 1923.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, HANNAH To'r'rEN WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tiller Locks (Case A), of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates `to an attachment for outboard motors designed to provide means for holding the tiller in any adjusted posi-- tion.

An object of my invention is to provide a device which may be attached to outboard motors of ordinary construction and of a common type, so that the user may be enabled to lock the tiller in any position desired whereby the party steering may, when desired, occupy themselves elsewhere or with somethlng else. j

Another object of my invention is to provide novel reversing means for such motors, and means-in connection therewith for locking the motor against reversing.

The features of my invention which I believe to be new and upon which I desire a patent will first be described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention embodied in typical constructions which include those now most preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor having my invention applied thereto mounted upon aboat, the body of the boat being in section. v

Figure 2 is a `top or plan view with 'portions of the tiller in section, showing the construction also illustrated in Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, top view and sectional side elevation showing slight modifications in construction, and Figure 5 shows in perspective a third slight modification.

Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, top or plan view and side elevation of a modified construction in which a friction holding device' is employed.

Figure 8 is a full sectional view through a portion of the tiller, as seen in plan view.

It is common in outboard' motors of the type for which my invention has been designed, to employ a tiller which extends forwardly and to apply to such tiller a spring which tends to throw it to one extreme position.. With such a motor it is necessary for the user to retain control of the tiller at all tn nes while the boat is running, or the boat will be caused to steer in a small circle. In motors of this type which do not employ a sprmgto hold the tiller in one direction 1t 1s st1ll necessary to retain control of the .tlller by actual engagement therewith to lnsure steering in the direction desired. The object. of my invention is to obviate the necessity for continuous manual engagement of the tiller, enabling the user to set it in any 'pos1t1on desired, with the certainty that 1t w1ll remain in that position until engaged and'shifted by hand.

Figures 1 and 2 show thegeneral type of construction employed in the Evinrude motor, whichk motor has been adopted as the means of illustrating the application of my inventlon to motors of this type. It is to be understood, however, that my invention 1s applicable to other makes o f motors of the same general type.

The construction of the motor is designed to remain as at present, except as isspecifically otherwise stated. The tiller l is, in the main, of the same construction as that commonly employed in this motor. This controls the steering by shifting from one side to the other. Means connected therewith arealso frequently employedl in such 'i motorsto control the direction of motion,

that is, forward or rearward, by means of giving the rudder post carrying the rudder and propeller a rotation about its axis through 180. My attachment, as illustrated in Figures 1 4 inclusive, and Figures 6 and 7, has been applied to a motor of this type. I will first describe the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4.

To secure a means for locking the tiller in adjusted positions I employ two toothed segment bars'2, which bars are' placed, one above and Vone below thetiller and closely adjacent to and parallel with the path of swing of the tiller. In the type of motor in which a spring is used to throw the tiller in one direction, the teeth upon this bar may be made as indicated in Figure 2, that is, with a vertical face in one vdirection and a slopping face in the other. With such a construction the vertical face is placed so as to oppose the swing of the tiller under the action of the spring. It is therefore, necessary to provide means to rel/ELSE the paWl Q I i or locking dog 3 by hand when moving in that direction, whereas movement in the other direction may be secured by simple pressure upon the tiller, the inclination of the teeth being sufficient to cause the locking dog to ride over them.

The locking means illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 for holding the tiller in adjusted positions employs a collar or sleeve 3 which surrounds the tiller just outside of the segment bars 2. This collar is provided with teeth, as 30, which are disposed in pairs, the

two teeth of each pair being designed for simultaneously engaging respectively with the upper and with the lower of the bars 2. This collar is mounted so as to be movable lengthwise of the tiller a suiicient distance to permit engagement and disengagement of the teeth thereof with the teeth of the segment bars. A spring, as the spring 31, is employed to throw the dogs into engagement with thevtoothed bar.

In the type of construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, this spring is placed outside of the handle, while in the type of construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 the spring 32, employed for this purpose, is placed within the hollow of the handle and is connected at one end with a pin 33 carried by the tiller and at the other end with a pin 34 which passes through slots 35 in the tiller and engages the collar 3. Pivoted upon the handle is a dog-controlling hand lever 36. This lever is connected, as by a rod 37, with the collar 3. so as to make the collar relatively movable by the action of the hand which engages the tiller to shift it..

The engine is reversed, in the type of construction shown, by a turning or rotative movement of the handle, in a manner to be described hereinafter. Inv such case, the dogs which engage the toothed bar in one position will not engage said bar when the handle has been turned. To provide for this the second 'set of dogs 30 are provided, these being spaced from the first set an angular distance corresponding to the angular adjustment ofthe tiller handle employed for operating the reverse. The second set of dogs 30 will, therefore, be brought into action when the reverse is operated.

In connection with a motor employing this rotative action of the tiller for controlling the reverse, or for any other purpose. it is necessary t0 have two of the toothed bars, one above and the` other below the tiller, or the effect of the spring, acting to throw the tiller in one direction would be to turn the tiller handle about its axis and thus operate the reverse. By having one of these bars above and one below the tiller. the resisting action is balanced and no turning effect is produced in the handle.

The segment bars 2 may be supported in any manner found suitable. The means l illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings consists of two arms 2O which are secured to an arm, as 21, of the engine frame by means of U-bolts 22. These arms 20 are also connected by a cross bar 23, so as to maintain them in exact and rigid relation. Any other supporting means found suitable may be substituted for the means just described.

The reversing means illustrated is operable, by` turning the tiller handle 1 upon its axis. In the form shown in Figures 1, 2, and 8, this handle, or an extension thereof, is provided with one or more angular slots 10 which receive the ends of a pin 7, carried by a rod which extends rearwardly to shift the reversing mechanism now employed, upon reciprocation of this rod 70. The ends of the pin 7 pass through slots 15 which are parallel to the axis of the handle, in an inner sleeve 11. The outer sleeve 1 is rotatable upon the inner sleeve 11, but relative axial movement therebetween is prevented by a pin or screw 16 which is secured in the outer sleeve 1 and received in a circumferential slot 17 in the inner sleeve 11. It is evident that rotation of the handle 1 will reciprocate the rod 70 axially, through the engagement of pin 7 secured therein in the slots 10 and 15, relative axial movement between the sleeves 1 and 11 being prevented by the engagement of pin 16 in the slot 17. A spring 72 may be employed if desired, to assist in the return reciprocation of the rod 70, and operable to hold the same normally in forward position.

It is sometimes desirable to lock the parts so that the motor may not be reversed accidentally or otherwise. As a means for accomplishing this result I employ a plunger 18, having two peripheral grooves, as 12, into either of which grooves is designed to be entered a holding pin 13 which projects from the side of the tiller beyond the end of the inner sleeve 11. The movement of this plunger 18 is secured through a rod, as 14, which is placed Within the hollow axis of the tiller and extends to the outer end of the handle, at which point it projects a sufficient distance to enable it to be engaged for shifting as desired. By pushing in this plunger 18 until its inner end contacts with the end of rod 70, and by securing parts in this relation by engagement of pin 13 in the proper groove 12, reciprocation ofthe rod 70 is prevented and the device is held in forward position.

The means for reciprocating the rod 70 which is shown in Figures 3 and 4, is similar in most respects to that shown in Figures 1, 2, and 8, with the exception that the handle or outer sleeve is divided into two parts. 1 and 1". and the outer portion 1". extending within the sleeve 11. may contact with the pin 7 to lock the rod 70 against reciprocation in place of the plunger 18. The

inner part 1 of this handle carries the slots 10 and the pins 13 and 16, the latter pin` in this construction being selectively receivable in one of two holes 12 in the vmember 1" to retain the parts in locked or unlocked position. Relative movement of the parts 1 and 1 of the handle necessitates either a change in the effective length of the rod 37, as by telescoping it at 37, o1' a repositioning of the pivot of the lever 36, as indicated by the v holes `36. or both.

In the type of construction shown in Figures 1-4 inclusive, the dog controlling lever 36, which is pivoted upon the tiller handle, turns with the said handle, as does also the collar 3 which carries the holding dogs 30. In the device shown in Figure 5 a toothed segmentbar 2' is positionedabove the tiller. With this form I prefer to employ aaretaining finger. as 5, which is mounted upon the tiller bar and projects over the side of the segment bar, thereby including the segment bar between the finger 5 and the tiller 1. and preventing turningofthe tiller.

In the device as illustrated in Figure 5 it is not contemplated that the tiller bar 1 be turned for reversal of the screw or otherwise. In consequence. a single bar is sufticient for the purpose. In this case the dog is formed on the erid of the rod 37 which is connected with the controlling lever 36 and slides within a housing. as 38. carried by the tiller arm. In this construction the dog may be held in engaging position by means ot a spring` as 39, placed under the controlling leve-r 36.

In the device shown in Figures 6 and 7. the tiller is of the type whichis turned upon its longitudinal axis toreverse the direction of thrust of the wheel. Instead of a toothed segment bar and pawls to hold the tiller in adjusted position, I have shown a smooth segment bar and a friction device forV gripping it to thereby hold the tiller. Various forms of gripping devices may be eniployed.

The segment bar 2a has been placed nearer the pivot axis of as by clamps 25, or by other suitable means, from the frame of the motor. The tiller arm member 11 has mounted thereon a guide clip or block 14 which has a. guide channel receiving the slidable gripping or friction block 15. An arm 16, engages with the opposite. side of the segment bar 2a.'

A lever 4 is pivoted at 41 to the block 14 and pivotally connected at 40 to the sliding y Jfriction block 15. A spring 43 connects one end of the lever 4 with a kfinger 17 carried by the guide block 14, and normall)v applies the friction device to engage the segment bar 2 to hold the tiller.

Mounted to slide upon from the lever 4 is a collar the tiller out-wards Pivotally mounted upon the tiller handle is a hand or controlling lever 6 which is connected with the tiller and is supported,

the collar 5 by links, whereby it may be moved lengthwise of the tiller. As shown theselinks each consist of two parts adjustable to vary the operating'length thereof. One part, 50, is shown as a tube into which the other part 51 slides, the two being secured in adjusted position by a clamping or set screw 52.

The bell crank hand or controlling lever G is pivotedat 60 to an arm 64 of a clamp or collar 63 which embraces the tiller handle. lts long arm 61 is approximately parallel with the tiller handle and its short arms 62 are connected with the ends 51 of the links by which the collar 5 is moved. While the tiller and the controlling lever 6 and collar 5 turn when the reversing mechanism is operated, the action of the collar 5 upon the lever 4v is in no way afected thereby. I'Vhen the controlling lever 6 is moved nearer toward the. tiller handle it forces the collar 5 against the end 42 of the lever 4, which withdraws the friction block or dog 15 from the segment bar 2'3L and thus releases the grip upon said bar, permitting free swinging of the tiller. As soon as the controlling lever 6 is released, thespring 43 throws the block 15 into engagement with the segment bar and applies the friction device to hold the tiller.

lVith a device of this sort applied to this type of motor, the tiller may be set in any position desired and will remain in such position until manually engaged and shifted. It is` therefore, possible for a person to let go of the tiller and go to another part of the boat if for any purpose this be desired.

lhat I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with the tiller of an.

outboard motor wherein the turning of the tiller is used to control a second operation. of a pair of toothedsegment bars parallel to and at opposite sides of the pathof swing of said tiller. a collar slidable on the tiller and having two pairs of teeth,ea`ch pair of teeth being adapted to engage both of said segment bars when the tiller is in its respective positions of rotative adjustment.

2. The combination with the tiller of an outboard motor wherein the turning of the tiller is used to control a second operation. of a pair of toothed segment bars parallel to and at opposite sides of the path of swing of said tiller, a slide mounted on the tiller and having teeth adapted to engage each of theI said toothed bars simultaneously.

3. The combination with the tiller of an outboard motor wherein the turning of the tiller is used to control asecond operation. of a pair of toothed segment bars parallel to and at opposite. sides of the path of swing of said tiller, a slide mounted on the tiller` with the segment bars. and a controlling lever for the slide carried by the tiller handle.

4. The combination with a tiller and an engine-controlling means operated by the turning of the tiller about its longitudinal axis, of a means carried in part upon the tiller whereby it may be locked in adjusted position.

5. The combination with a tiller and an engine controlling means operated by turning of the tiller about its longitudinal axis, of means carried in part by the rotating parts'of the tiller` and rotatable therewith for locking the tiller against swinging.

6. The combination with the tiller of an outboard motor of a rod reciprocable to reverse said motor, means operable by rotation of said tiller for reciprocating said rod, a segment bar adjacent to and parallel with the plane of swing of said tiller, and means controllable from the tiller handle for locking the same upon said segment bar against swinging.

7. Theeombination with the tiller of an outboard motor of a rod reciprocable to reverse said motor, means operable by rotation of said tiller for reciprocating said rod,

a segment bar adjacent to and parallel with the plane of swing of said tiller, means controllable from the tiller handle for lool;- ing the same upon said segment bar against swinging, and means for locking said rod in a selected position whereby the direction of the motor may not be changed.

8. The combination with the tiller arm of an outboard motor of a rod reciprocable lengthwise thereof to reverse said motor, a handle including an outer sleeve rotatable upon said tiller arm, and having an lar slots therein, a pin secured in said ro and receivable in said angular slots, an inner sleeve forming a part of the tiller arm within said outer sleeve and having longitudinal slots therein positioned to receive said pin, means permitting relative rotative movement and preventing relative longitudinal movement between said inner and outer sleeves, and means for locking said tiller in any steering position operable in either rotated position of its handle.

Signed at Seattle, KingCounty, Washington, this 15th day of November 1920.

HANNAH TOTTEN WILLIAMS. 

